Letters to the editor 11/27

'Going alone' theory costs the nation dearly

Inwardly, America is at war - collisions of ideas on how best to lead a globalized marketplace, where conflicts of global terrorism, partisan Atavism and technological disruptions exist.

Military and business leaders have indicated that effective leadership does not operate on the grounds of stoic paradigms but intellectual flexibility. Effective leadership in the 21st century must not be driven by a political party's ideology rooted in a preconceived historic bubble. Also, knowing the limitations of America's power will serve it best.

President Obama's leadership style has been characterized by some Republicans as leading from behind. Carelessly, the press has not pushed for a definitive explanation from those whom have inductively used this description to belittle the president.

Obviously, Obama sees America's power as a product of the whole world and that it is best used when it provides direction toward a purpose of singularity. The logical impetus in leading from behind allows America's power to control the process other than going alone: It would be less expensive in both lives and dollars.

The thinking that America's exceptional power must be "out front" in conflicts has cost our country dearly and has separated us from the rest of the world. But it is confronted with a changing marketplace that is more diversified in compositions - where the enemies are less cohesive geographically. Refusing to recognize our limitations in going alone has had profound consequences.

Chuck Cooper

Hopewell Junction

County jail would sting retired homeowners

The average annual Social Security checks sent to retired workers in 2013 will increase by $168. The 1.7 percent COLA increase of $252 will be reduced by withdrawal of $84 for Medicare Part B premiums by the government.

If the retired worker owns a home next to the proposed county jail site on the state's now-closed Hudson River Psychiatric Center on Route 9 in the Town of Poughkeepsie, the expected property-tax increases in 2013 will burn up most of the $168 "pay raise" of the year 2013. That leaves about 30 cents per week for entertainment.

If the jail is built here, the market value of the homes in this area will be reduced while our property taxes will not shrink.

Taxpayers in our area can ill afford to have potentially prime commercial properties being taken off our tax rolls.

Alicia and George Stoffers

Poughkeepsie

Blaze victims thankful for fire squads and more

My husband and I woke up Thanksgiving morning thankful for Fairview Fire and Roosevelt Fire companies.

They rescued us from a fire at our home early Friday morning, six days before Thanksgiving. We are forever grateful. Special thanks to chief for the Fairview Fire District, Christopher Maeder, for his continued kindness and support during this difficult time.

Thanks to Peggy Mulligan at the Red Cross for all her help.

Thanks to St. Francis Hospital emergency crew.

We appreciate you and the heroic work you do.

Special thanks to Dr. Robert Redden and his staff at the Arlington Animal Hospital for their kind and gentle care of our dog, Sasha.

Of course our friends and family for their overwhelming love and support. We love you all.

My husband, Gregg, thanks you, I thank you and our dog thanks you.

Cheryl Decker

Poughkeepsie

Lyme disease series helps raise awareness

Thank you for running your excellent series on Lyme disease.

In particular, your reporting shows that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is simply playing with numbers to deny that Lyme disease is an epidemic.

As noted in your article, New York state permits areas of high incidence to report estimated cases (to avoid high expense in verifying cases). The CDC disallows estimated cases in counting incidences of Lyme disease.

The disallowance of cases from areas of high incidence results in a lower overall number of cases. The CDC then could claim that there is no epidemic.

Robert A. Dyson

Wappingers Falls

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Letters to the editor 11/27

Inwardly, America is at war ? collisions of ideas on how best to lead a globalized marketplace, where conflicts of global terrorism, partisan Atavism and technological disruptions exist.